RTL Group
RTL Group ("Radio Télévision Luxembourg") is a Luxembourg-based international media conglomerate, with another corporate centre in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.[1][2] The company operates 56 television channels and 36 radio stations in Germany, France and other European countries. It also offers national streaming platforms, content productions and a range of digital services. Important segments of RTL Group are RTL Deutschland, Groupe M6 and Fremantle.[3]
Formerly
Société Luxembourgeoise d'Études Radiophoniques (May–July 1929)
Compagnie Nationale de Radiodiffusion Luxembourgeoise (1929–1931)
Compagnie Luxembourgeoise de Radiodiffusion (1931–1954)
Compagnie Luxembourgeoise de Télédiffusion (1954–1997)
CLT-UFA (1997–2000)
LU0061462528 
27 May 1929
Worldwide
Martin Taylor
(Chairman)
Thomas Rabe
(CEO)
Television
Radio
Streaming
Content production
Digital services
18,623 (2022)
Bertelsmann Capital Holding (76.28%)
The company, in its present form, was established by Bertelsmann, Groupe Bruxelles Lambert (GBL), and Pearson TV in the year 2000.[4] Over the years, Bertelsmann, a conglomerate based in the German city of Gütersloh, continued to increase its stake in RTL Group and currently owns just over 75% of the shares in the company after holding a stake of more than 90% in the past.[5][6] RTL Group is one of a total of eight divisions of Bertelsmann: It is responsible for more than a third of its revenue and a large share of its operating profit.[7]
It is one of the founding members of the European Broadcasting Union.
Former divisions[edit]
RTL Group or its prececessors previously operated or owned stakes in other TV channels or channel families, including RTL Belgium, RTL9, Channel 5, REN TV, RTL Croatia, RTL 7, and TVI.
The headquarters of RTL Belgium are located in Brussels in the so-called "RTL House". Core of its business activities are the television channels RTL-TVI and related channels such as RTL Club and RTL Plug. These also have licences issued by Luxembourg, causing some issues.[73] RTL Belgium additionally operates radio stations such as Bel RTL. Almost all of its services are provided in French. In June 2021, it was announced that RTL Belgium would be sold for €250 million to DPG Media and Rossel, pending regulatory approval.[74] The sale was effectuated on March 31, 2022.[75] In March 2023, RTL Belgium announced its Luxembourgish status to become fully Belgian.
Controversies[edit]
Observers have repeatedly criticised RTL Group for having "missed the boat in the streaming era".[76] Thomas Rabe, chairman and chief executive officer of Bertelsmann, has responded to this criticism by campaigning for the deregulation of the highly competitive television market to enable the establishment of national alternatives to the "giants of Silicon Valley".[77]